Balance-wheel



(Nb Mddel.)

J. B. TIBBITS. BALANCE WHEEL.

No. 280,096. Patented June 26, 1883.

Wiirze/au a:

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN B. rrnanrrs, or noosro, NEW YORK.

BALANCE-WHEEL.

SPEQ IFICATION forming part of Letters Pateiit No. 280,096, dated June 26, 1883. Application filed February 3, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, J oHN B. TIBBI'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoosic, in the county of Bensselaer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Balance-\Vheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ba1ance-wheels used in connection with machinery, and especially to those used with reaping-machines, mowingmachines, and harvesters; and the objects thereof are to secure regularity of motion and avoid or greatly lessen the strain upon the wheel and the machinery to which it is attached, caused by variations in the speed of balance-wheels as usually constructed, at certain points in each rewolution, and the consequent jerk or wrench given to the wheel and machinery. I attain these objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a new in perspective of the balance-wheel. Fig. 2 is a view of the inner surface of the cap or movable side of the balancewheel. Fig. 3 is a view of the inside of the balance-wheel and the contents thereof in proper position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

The balance-wheel may be of any suitable size and material, and it is formed bya circular rim, A, Fig. 1, having two sides, B and 0, Figs. 2 and 3, the outer surface of which sides is fiat andflush with the respective edges of the rim A. The side C may be cast with, or in some suitable manner securely fastened to, the said rim, while the side B rests upon a shoulder or other proper support on the inner side of the rim, and is held in position by bolts or screws, or other suitable device, so as to be easily removed and replaced. The inner surface of the rim is straight from edge to edge and smooth, while the outer surface may be of any desired form. The wheel is hollow, and without hub, spokes, or arms, andinside thereof is placed a piece of iron or other suitable metal, E, which I call a balance-weight. The length of this balance-weight is such asto allow the ends thereof to be as near as possible to the inner surface of the rim of the wheel,

and not be in contacttherewith, and the sides of the balance-weight and the inner "surface of the sides of the wheel are as near each other as may be and not be in contact, thus allowing the balance-weight to move freely therein. The size and weight of this balance -weight must be adapted to the size of the wheel with which it is used. It is broader at one end than at the other end, and is irregular in width, and

through the narrow end, from side to side, is an opening, H, into which is inserted and fastened one end of a shaft or arm, F, which projects beyond the side B of said wheel, and at a right angle thereto, a suitable distance to allow one end of a pit-man to be placed thereon, and held in position by a screw-nut, G, or other suitable device. Each end of the balance-weight is circular to correspond with the circularity of the inner surface of the rim A, and entirely across the broad end of. said weight, at the center of said end, is a semicircular groove, I, of sufficient size to admit therein a correspond ing semicircular projection, J, extending inwardly from the inner surface of said rim A,

and also to leave a space, K, between the said.

groove and projection. Through the said balanceaveight, from side to side and at the center thereof, is an opening, Y, into which is placed one end of a hollow shaft or. core, I), and upon which the balance-weight will turn.

This shaft or core D passes through and is cast with or firmly fastened to the side 0 of the wheel, and projects beyond said side 0, at a right angle thereto, a sufficient distance to allow one end of a shaft to be inserted therein and fastened thereto. Bearing against one edge of the balance-weight, at the narrow end of such weight, is one end of a suitable spring, M, and bearing against the opposite edge of said balanceaveight, at the broad end of said weight, is one end of a suitable spring, L, and the other end of each spring is fastened to the wheel, close to the inside of the rim and near to the narrow end of the ba] a neeweight, by bolts or screws N and 0. All the space within said wheel not occupied by the 'various other parts thereof is filled with wool or other suitable elastic material closely packed therein. Upon the inner surface of the side B of said wheel are slight projections B, S, T, and U,which correspond, substantially, in out line, size, and position with the parts of said wheel containing the wool or other elastic material, and upon which they are intended to press. The opening in the side 13, and through which the shaft or arm F passes, is slightly elongated in a direction crosswise of the balance-weight, so as to allow the balance-weight a rotary motion. cued to the wheel by bolts or screws through the openings P.

The gear V shown in Fig. l is not a part of my invention, and I make no claim. in regard thereto.

Having thus described myinvcntion, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A hollow wheel having a rim, A, a per.- manent side, 0, having a core, 1), through the center, and a movable side, B, having an elongated opening near the edge thereof, substantially as described.

2. A balance-weight, E, broad at one end, with a groove in and across such end, and narrow at the opposite end, and an arm or opening for an. arm in such narrow end, substantially as described.

8. A balance-weight, E, capable of a rotary motion upon a core, D, at its center, in combination with a hollow wheel, substantially as described. g

4. The combination and arrangement, inside of a hollow wheel, of a balance-weight, E, springs L and M, core D, projection J, and wool or other suitable elastic material, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a hollow wheel, of a movable balance-weight, l), and wool or other suitable elastic material, substantially as described.

The side B is securely fast- 7 6. The entire combination and arrangement of parts forming a balance-wheel, consisting of a rim, A, sides 13 and 0, core D, balanceweight E, springs L and M, projection J, wool or other suitable elastic material, projections R S T U, arm F, nut G, and bolts N and O, substantially as described.

7. An elastic joint (so called) formed in a balance-wheel by the interposition of wool K or other suitable elastic material between the sides of a groove, 1, in that end of a balanceweight E, which is opposite to the end of such balance-weight from which power or motion is transmitted, and a stationary projection, J, or other suitable device, serving as a stop within and smaller than said groove, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a balance-wheel, of a balance-weight, E, and wool K, or other suitable elastic material, placed against the edges of said balance-weight in such manner as to act as a spring, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a balance-wheel, oil

. a balance-weight, E, capable of a rotary motion upon a hollow shaft or core, D, at its center, acting as a journal, and having an elastic ioint,(so called) at one end, and an arm or shaft to which may be attached a pitman or other suitable device for transmitting power or mo tion, and wool K or other suitable elastic material, and suitable springs, L and M, substantially as described.

J. B. TI'BBITS.

\Vitnesses JNo. H. OBRIEN, T. 1?. UMETRANO. 

